Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 2010

France / Champagne

Dom Ruinart vintage champagne is only produced in exceptional years. It is made from 100% Chardonnay from the Grands Crus of the Côte des Blancs (90%) and the northern slopes of the Montagne de Reims (10%). The 2010 is a combination of an exciting vintage and a major oenological change: in 1998, Ruinart decided to cork part of its production instead of using crown caps. At a tasting in 2008, the difference was clear: the corked bottles revealed more exciting wines with an extra layer of complexity. The 2010 Dom Ruinart marks a major step in mastering this process with a return to a once common practice: using corks instead of crown caps for aging on the lees. A cork is not only noble but is carefully selected like the grapes. Ruinart selects producers who manage the cork oak forests according to sustainable, responsible practices.